Was it known why he stayed away? Yes. It was known twenty—forty times over, there being at least forty plausible³ reasons adduced to account for the unaccountable circumstance. Business it was not—that the gossips agreed. He had achieved the business on which he departed long ago. His four ringleaders he had soon scented⁵ out and run down. He had attended their trial, heard their conviction and sentence, and seen them safely shipped prior to transportation.

 

This was known at Briarfield. The newspapers had reported it. The Stilbro' Courier had given every particular, with amplifications. None applauded his perseverance⁷ or hailed his success, though the mill-owners were glad of it, trusting that the terrors of law vindicated¹⁰ would henceforward paralyze the sinister¹¹ valour of disaffection. Disaffection, however, was still heard muttering to himself. He swore ominous¹² oaths over the drugged beer of alehouses, and drank strange toasts in fiery¹³ British gin.

 

One report affirmed that Moore dared not come to Yorkshire; he knew his life was not worth an hour's purchase if he did.

 

"I'll tell him that," said Mr. Yorke, when his foreman mentioned the rumour¹⁴; "and if that does not bring him home full gallop¹⁵, nothing will."

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